Rewind engine starter



1958 R. L. MORDEN 2,848,987

REWIND ENGINE STARTER Filed May 11, 1955 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

59 54 a FIG. 3

5a INVENTOR.

PUSSELL L. Moeozm ATTOENEYS.

Aug. 26, 1958 R. L. MORDEN REWIND ENGINE STARTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1955 -INVENTOR. PussELL. L. MOQDEN ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 26, 1958 R. L. MORDEN REWIND ENGINE STARTER Filed May 11. 1955 4 Sheetg-Sheet 5 IJIIHHIIHHIIIIEH lll INVENTOR. RUSSELL L. MOEDEN ATTORNEYS.

8 1958 R. L. MORDEN 2,848,987

REWIND ENGINE STARTER Filed May 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR. RUSSELL L. Moeozrv ATTORNEYS.

REWIND ENGINE STARTER Russell L. Morden, Lansing, Mich, assignor to Motor Wheel Corporation, Lansing, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 11, 1955, Serial No. 507,587

26 Claims. (Cl. 123-179) This invention relates to an engine starter and particularly to a starter for small internal combustion engines such as are used on lawn mowers and outboard motors.

Starters for such engines usually include elements which are adapted to engage a rotatable part of the engine for starting the engine and to disengage after the engine is started. The starters also include a pulley on which a cord is wound, the elements being actuated when the cord is pulled. The actuation of the elements is usually accomplished by centrifugal or friction means.

The present invention is directed to a starter wherein the elements for engaging and disengaging are pawls which are actuated by friction means to engage or dis engage a rotatbale part of the engine.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a starter which is compact and easily and economically manufactured.

A further object is to provide such a starter which requires a minimum of maintenance.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a starter in which each pawl is individually actuated so that if one pawl becomes jammed or stuck, then the starter will still be operable.

Basically the starter" comprises housing adapted to be mounted on a fixed part of the engine and includes a pulley rotatably mounted within the housing. A cord or rope is adapted to be wound around the pulley for rotating the pulley in one direction and a spring acts to oppose the rotation of the pulley by the cord and to return the pulley to its original position. Pawls are pivotally mounted on the pulley and are adapted to engage the sides of openings in a frusto-conical driving cup fixedly mounted on a rotatable part of the engine such as the flywheel. The pawls are actuated by friction means which retard the movement of the pawls when the pulley is rotated, thereby causing them to be pivoted. The friction means include a washer individual to each pawl and frictionally mounted with respect to the housing. Each washer is provided with a tang which projects into an opening in its respective pawl. When the pulley is rotated, the rotation of the washers is frictionally retarded and the pawls are caused to pivot into engagement with the sides of the openings of the frusto-conical cup. When the cord is released and the pulley is rotated in the opposite direction by the spring, the rotation of the friction washers is again retarded and the pawls are pivoted out of engagement with the openings in the cup.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the starter mounted on an engine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the same on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

2,848,987 Patented Aug. 26, 1958 ice Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 5, showing the pawls in engaged position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary part sectional plan view of the starter.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an exploded elevational view of the starter.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 11--11 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 1212 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of a modified form of starter.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary part sectional plan view of a portion of the starter similar to Fig. 8, with the starter rope removed.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 10, starter 20 is shown mounted on an engine 21. The starter includes a driving cup 22 rigidly mounted on a rotatable part of the engine, such as the flywheel 23, by means of a bolt 24 and nut 25. The driving cup 32 includes a lower cylindrical portion 26, a frusto-conical portion 27 projecting outwardly from the upper end of the lower cylindrical portion and an upstanding cylindrical wall 28 extending upwardly from the frusto-conical portion 27. The driving cup is provided with lugs 29 which project downwardly into slots in the flywheel to prevent rotation of the cup relative to the flywheel. The cylindrical wall 28 is provided with a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced openings 30 therein which are adapted to be engaged by the pawls, as presently described. The driving cup 22 also includes a flange 31 at the upper periphery of the cylindrical wall 29 and a slot 32 in the flange. When the starter is removed from the engine, the engine may be manually started by placing the end of a cord in the slot 32, wrapping the cord around the cylindricalwall and thereafter pulling the cord.

A screen 33 of perforated metal or the like is welded to the cup and projects outwardly and downwardly into contact with the flywheel. The screen serves to prevent dirt or other materials from entering the engine.

Casing 34 of the engine surrounds the flywheel and the starter housing is mounted on the casing. The housing includes a mounting plate 35 which comprises a ring 36 and a series of circumferentially spaced and downwardly projecting lugs 37, which insure that sufiicient air will pass from the atmosphere to the engine. The lower ends 38 of the lugs 37 are bent inwardly and serve to mount the mounting plate on the casing by bolts 39 which pass through the lower ends of the lugs into the casing 34. Tabs 40 project upwardly from the ring 36 and facilitate the mounting of cover 41. The cover 41 includes a slightly curved top portion 42 and a peripheral wall 43 having an opening 44 in one portion thereof through which the cord passes. The cover 41 also includes a downwardly projecting axial projection 45 having a shoulder 46 which divides the projection into an upper and lower portion.

As shown in Fig. 3, the upper portion of the axial projeetion 45 includes short arcuate walls 47 spaced from the main body of the projection and forming slots 48. The inner end of a spiral coil spring 49 engages the slot 43 and the outer end of the coil spring engages the pulley to retard the rotation of the pulley in one direction. The provision of a wall 47 and slot 48 in opposite directions permits the mounting of the starter for either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the pulley. Because of convenience in manufacture, two pairs of walls 47 and slots 48 are formed, thereby providing a spare pair. The cover 41 is provided with radially extending ribs 50 on the underside thereof which maintain-the upper edges of the convolutions of coil spring 49 in a single plane, while the lower edges of the spring convolutions are maintained in a proper plane by a spring retainer plate 51 as presently described. The cover 41 also has cutaway portions 52 in the wall 43 (Fig. 8) which are adapted to receive the tabs projecting upwardly from the mounting plate for mounting 'the cover on the plate. Screws 53 pass through the cover and engage the tabs 49.

A pulley is mounted on the lower portion of the axial projection and includes an upper plate 54 and a lower plate 55 welded to the upper plate. The upper plate has the peripheral portion thereof spaced from the lower plate to provide a groove 56 into which the cord may be wound. One end of the cord is fastened .to the pulley. The other end of the cord projects through the opening 44 in the cover and through an opening in handle 57 and frxed with respect thereto by a knot in the'free end of the cord. The upper plate 54 of the pulley is provided with an upstanding wall 58 on the inner periphery thereof having a slot 59 which is adapted to be engaged by the other end of the spring 49, as shown in Fig. 3.

The lower plate 55 of the pulley includes a cup shaped projection formed by a downwardly projecting cylindrical wall 60, an inwardly extending horizontal annular wall 61 and an upwardly projecting circumferential flange 62. A bushing 63 is welded to the flange 62 and is adapted to surround the axial projection 45 of the cover 41. The bushing, and, in turn, the pulley are rotatably supported on axial projection 45 by a lock washer 64 on the lower end of the axial projection and are held against axial movement by a bolt .65 threaded into the axial projection. The lock washer 64 is prevented from rotating by short radial tabs 64' which engage key-ways 66 in the axial projection (Fig. 5),.

A pawl cup 67 in the form of .an annular flat stamping is mounted in parallel relationship to the horizontal annular wall 61 of the lower plate 55 of the pulley. The

horizontal annular wall 61 includes diametrically opposed, downwardly projecting depressions 68 which space the pawl cup from the horizontal wall 61. The pawl cup 67 is fastened to the horizontal wall 61 by welds at said depressions. Two diametrically opposed pins 69 extend between the horizontal annular wall 61 and the pawl cup and are riveted thereto. Pawls 70 are pivotally mounted on the pins 69. The distance between the horizontal annular wall 61 and thepawl cup 67 is preferably greater than the thickness of the pawls 70. One edge 90 of the pawls 74 is straight while the opposite edge is provided with a recess 91 adapted to engage the edges 93 of the discontinuous walls 80 of the pawl cup to provide a stop and support for the pawls 70 when the front edge 90 engages the cup 22 (Figs. 5 and 6). The pawls are also provided with an opening 92 adapted to be engaged by hereinafter described tanks 77 to pivot the pawls into and out of engagement with the openings 30 in the driving cup 22.

positioned between the upper end of the bushing 63 and rotation below the fiat washer and with its inner edge the lower surface of the flat washer 72. The cup includes an annular flange 75 on which are mounted friction washers 76. A friction washer 76 is provided for each of the pawls and includes a tang 77 projecting downwardly through opening 78 in the horizontal wall 61 of the lower plate 55 of the pulley, through the opening 92 of the pawl and into opening 79 in the pawl'cup. A compression spring 80 extends between the fiat washer 72 and the top face of the uppermost friction washer 76, serving to frictionally retard the rotation of the friction washers. The radii of the annular flange 75 of: cup '74 and the friction washers 76 are preferably equal to the radial distance of the pivotal connection of each pawl from the center of the axial projection. The radial distance of each tang 77 from the center of the axial projection is preferably greater than the radial distance of the pivotal connection of the pawl from the center of the axial projection.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the openings 73 and 79 in the horizontal wall 61 of the pulley and the pawl cup 67, respectively, are elongated to permit a limited arcuate movement of the tang 77 relative to the pulley. in

addition, the pawl cup 67 is provided with a second set of elongated openings and round holes 850 (Fig. 5) which permit the same pawl cup to be'used in the event that the starter is assembled for rotation in the opposite direction.

Upon rotation of the pulley in the direction indicated by arrows in Figs. 5 and 6, by pulling the cord, the rotation of the friction washers is frictionally retarded causing the pawls to be pivoted outwardly, as shown in Fig. 6. The outward movement of the pawls is limited by the edges 93 of the discontinuous walls 86 of the pawl cup.

As shown in Figs. 8, 9, l2 and 16 the pulley is pro vided with a structure for fastening the end of the cord. This structure includes an L-shaped opening 81 in the upper plate 54 and a pair of spaced openings 32, 83 in the lower plate 55, the openings 82, 83 being in register with opposite ends of the longer leg of the L-shapcd opening 81. The portion 84 of the plate 55 between the openings 82, 83 is depressed toward the plate 54-. in fastening the end of the rope, the end portion is looped upwardly through the short leg of the L-shaped opening 81 and the free end passed downwardly through opening 82 and thereafter upwardly through opening 83 and back through the end of the loop. By pulling the cord, the end of the cord is firmly fastened to the pulley without interfering with the normal action of the pulley. The depressed portion 84 of the lower plate 54 insures that the rope will not project outwardly into contact with any fixed portion of the starter.

Referring to Fig. 10, the starter may be assembled by holding the pulley and pawl assembly in the position shown in Fig. 2 and successively positioning the friction cup 74, friction washer 76, compression spring 30, flat washer 72, and spring retainer plate 51 over bushing 63, care being taken to engage the tang 77 of the friction washer 76 with the openings 92 in the pawls. The coil spring 49 is initially furnished in a compressed condition and is forced out of its package into its position in the pulley, after which its outer end is hooked in slot 59. The entire assembly is then assembled over the axial projection 45 and the inner end of the spring is hooked into the slot 48. Washer 64 and bolt 65 are then mount ed in the end of the axial projection. The spring retainer plate 51 includes tangs 87 adapted to engage the sidesof the cylinder wall 60 of the pulley.

The cord is preferably attached to the pulley and wound around the pulley prior to its being mounted on the axial projection, and is engaged in a slot in the periphery of the lower plate of the pulley, with the handle attached to the end of the cord. The pulley assembly is then assembled to the cover as described above.

To tension the spring the short length of cord extending downwardly from the slot 88 is grasped and used as a handle to rotate the pulley while the cover is held stationary. After about three to six turns the cord is pulled out of slot 88 when it is opposite handle opening 44-, and the cord and handle 57 are guided through the opening 44, the handle engaging the periphery of the opening. The mounting plate 35 is then mounted on the casing of the engine by screws 39 and the cover with the various parts attached thereto is mounted on the mounting plate by means of the screws 53 (Fig. 3). The slot 88 is required because the distance between the outer periphcry of the pulley and the inner periphery of the wall 4-3 of the cover is insufficient to permit passage of the cord.

When it is desired to start the engine, the handle is pulled causing the pulley to be rotated in the direction indicated by arrows in Figs. 5 and 6. Since the pawls 70 are pivotally supported on the pulley by pins 69, these pivotal connections rotate with the pulley. However, since, frictional washers 76 are seated on stationary cup 'M and are urged thereagainst by spring 80, the washers 76 resist rotation. Thus, the tangs '77 remain stationary upon initiation of rotation of the pulley and the pawls therefore pivot outwardly in a counterclockwise direction about tangs '77 to a position wherein the recessed edges 91 of the pawls abut against the edges 93 of the discontinuous walls 86, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The pawls thus engage in the openings 3d and drive the cup 22 and flywheel 23. When the engine starts, driving cup 22 overrides the pulley causing the pawls to be moved inwardly out of engagement with the openings 30 in the driving cup, but not to their innermost position. The cord is rewound by spring 49 when the handle is released and the frictional drag of washers '76 because of the reverse rotation of the pulley under the influence of spring 4-5, causes the pawls To to pivot inwardly in a clockwise direction about the tangs '77 to the position shown in Pig. 5. in the event that the engine backfires during the starting, the driving cup 22 will carry the pawls and pulley in the opposite direction (Fig. 5) and the friction washers will slip against their frictional contact, without breaking or jamming any parts.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided an engine starter wherein each of the engaging elements is individually actuated thereby insuring that in the event one of the elements becomes jammed or stuck the other element will still be operable. Moreover, the various parts may be easily and economically manufactured, for example, by using stampings, with very little precision fitting necessary. The Working parts of the pawl actuating mechanism are completely enclosed so that dirt, grass cuttings, and the like may not enter and jam the pawls or other working parts.

in addition, when it is desired to adapt the starter for starting an engine rotatable in the opposite direction, the same parts may be used by reversing the mounting of the spring 49 so that it tends to oppose rotation of the pulley in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, and welding the pawl cup 6'7 onto the lower horizontal wall 61 of the lower plate of the pulley in such a manner that the elongated openings 35 in the pawl cup are in alignment with the openings '78 in the horizontal wall. in addition, the pawls are mounted in reverse position with the straight edges 90 thereof facing in the opposite direction and the pins 69 riveted in openings 85a and '78.

A modified form of the starter is shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. In this form of starter the friction washers 76 are each provided with a pair of hook-shaped projections 1%., 102. A small coil spring 103 has one end thereof connected to one of the hook projections and the other end thereof connected to one of the small tabs 104-, 105 partially cut out of and bent upwardly from the horizontal annular Wall 61 of the lower plate 55 of the puiley. in the arrangement shown, springs 103 connect between hooks 101 and tabs 194. When the pawls 70 are in their innermost position out of contact with the driving cup 22, the light coil springs res serve to retain the pawls inwardly and prevent them from moving outwardly into contact with the driving cup 22 due to vibration caused by the operation of the engine. The size of the coil springs 103 is such that the normal operation of the pawls due to the action of the friction washers 76 is not aflected.

When the starter is to be used for rotation in the opposite direction, and the parts have been changed as heretofore described, the light springs 103 are connected between the hook-shaped projections 102 and tabs 105.

I claim:

1. An engine starter comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a fixed part of the engine, a pulley rotatably mounted within said housing, a cord adapted to be wound around said pulley to rotate the pulley when pulled, means yieldably resisting the rotation of said pulley in one direction and tending to return the pulley to its original position, pawls pivotally mounted on said pulley, a member having a driving connection with a rotatable part of the engine and adapted to be engaged by said pawls, means including an annular washer individual to each said pawl and rotatably mounted Within said housing about the axis of rotation of said pulley, means for applying an axial force to said washers to frictionally resist rotation of said washers, and means extending between each said washer. and its respective pawl whereby when the pulley is rotated in one direction by pulling the cord the pawls are caused to pivot into engagement with the member having the driving connection with the rotatable part of the engine and when the pulley is rotated in the opposite direction the pawls are caused to disengage said member.

2. The engine starter set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for applying an axial force to said washers comprises a compression spring.

3. The engine starter set forth in claim 1 wherein said means extending between each said washer and its respective pawl comprises a tang projecting from the periphery of each washer into an opening in its respective pawl.

4. The engine starter set forth in claim 3 wherein the radius of said washer is substantially equal to the radial distance of the pivotal connection of each pawl from the center of the pulley.

5. The engine starter set forth in claim 3 wherein the radial distance of the tang from the center of the washer is greater than the radial distance of the pivotal connection of each pawl from the center of the pulley.

6. The engine starter set forth in claim 1 wherein said member having a driving connection with the rotatable part of the engine comprises a frusto-conical portion and a cylindrical portion extending axially from the periphery of the frusto-conical portion, said cylindrical portion having a multiplicity of openings therein which are adapted to be engaged by the pawls.

7. The engine starter set forth in claim 6 wherein said member includes an outwardly extending peripheral rim at the free edge of the cylindrical portion and a slot in said rim whereby when the starter is removed from the engine the end of a cord may be inserted in said slot and the cord wound around the cylindrical wall for manual starting of the engine.

8. The engine starter set forth in claim 6 wherein said pulley includes a cup shaped portion projecting axially at one end into said cylindrical member and on which the pawls are pivotally mounted, whereby the overall height of the engine starter is kept at a minimum.

9. The engine starter set forth in claim 8 wherein a plate is supported in parallel spaced relationship to said end of said cup portion of the pulley and the pawls are pivotally supported therebetween.

10. An engine starter comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a fixed part of the engine, said housing being provided with an axial projection, a pulley rotatably mounted on the axial projection, a cord adapted to be wound about said pulley for rotating the pulley in one direction, a coil spring connected to said pulley and said housing resisting the rotation of said pulley in one direction, pawls pivotally mounted on said pulley, a member mounted on a rotatable part of the engine and adapted to be engaged by said pawls, a washer individual to each said pawl, means for rotatably supporting said washers on said axial projection, means interconnecting each said washer to its respective pawl, and means for applying an axial force to said washers tending to frictionally resist the rotation of said washers whereby when the pulley is rotated in one direction against the action of the spring, the pawls are caused to pivot into engagement with the member on the rotatable part of the engine due to the resistance on the rotation of the washers.

11. The engine starter set forth in claim 10 wherein said means interconnecting each said pawl to its respective washer comprises a tang projecting from each washer into an opening in the respective pawl.

12. The engine starter set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for rotatably mounting the washers on the axial projection comprises an annular flange fixedly mounted on the axial projection, the washers being positioned in superimposed relationship against said annular flange.

13. The engine starter set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for applying an axial force on said washers comprises a compression spring surrounding said axial projection.

14. The engine starter set forth in claim 12 wherein the radius of each said washer is approximately equal to the radial distance of the pivotal connection of each said pawl from the center of the axial projection.

15. The engine starter set forth in claim 12 wherein the radial distance of each said tang from the center of the axial projection is greater than the radial distance of the pivotal connection of the pawls from the center of the axial projection.

16. An engine starter comprising a housing adapted to be supported on and above a fixed part of the engine, said housing being provided with an axial downward projection, a pulley including spaced peripheral flanges, a cord adapted to be wound between said flanges for rotating the pulley in one direction, an annular cup shaped projection extending downwardly from said pulley and a bushing mounted centrally of said projection and adapted to surround the axial projection of the housing for rotatably mounting the pulley with respect to the housing, a plate spaced from, and parallel to, the lower surface of the cup shaped projection, pins extending between said cup and said plate, a pawl pivotally mounted on each of said pins, said plate having a discontinuous peripheral flange extending upwardly to limit the pivotal movement of each of the pawls, and means for frictionally resisting the pivotal movement of the pawls when the pulley is rotated by pulling the cord, said means comprising an annular flange fixedly mounted on said axial projection, a washer supported by said flange and individual to each said pawl, means for frictionally resisting rotation of each said washer relative to the annular flange, each said washer having a tang extending downwardly into an opening in its respective pawl.

17. The engine starter set forth in claim 16 wherein a driving cup is mounted on a rotatable part of the engine, said cup being provided with a multiplicity of openings adapted to be engaged by the pawls, said cup shaped projection of the pulley and driving cup being in telescoping relationship.

18. An engine starter comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on and above a fixed part of the engine, a pulley rotatably mounted on a vertical axis within said housing, a cord adapted to be wound about said pulley for rotating the pulley in one direction, a spring connected between said pulley and said housing for returning the pulley in the opposite direction, pawls mounted on said pulley for pivotal movement inwardly and outwardly in a horizontal plane, a member mounted on a rotatable part of the engine and having a frusto-conical portion and a cylindrical portion extending upwardly from the frusto-conical portion, said cylindrical portion having openings into which the pawls may pivot outwardly for engagement, said pulley including a cup shaped projection extending downwardly into said member mounted on the rotatable part of the engine, the pawls being mounted on said cup shaped projection, and means including friction means positioned Within the cup shaped projection of the pulley and operable upon rotation of the pulley by the cord to pivot the pawls into engagement with the openings in the cylindrical wall of the member mounted on the rotatable part of the engine.

19. An engine starter comprising a housing adapted to be supported on a fixed part of the engine, a pulley rotatably mounted within said housing, a cord adapted to be wound around the said pulley to rotate the pulley when pulled, means resisting the rotation of said pulley by said cord in one direction and tending to return the pulley to its original position when it is rotated by pulling said cord, a pawl pivotally mounted on said pulley, a member mounted on the rotatable part of the engine and adapted to be engaged by said pawl, means including an annular washer rotatably mounted within said housing about the axis of rotation of said pulley, means for frictionally retarding the rotation of said washer, and means extending between said washer and said pawl whereby when the pulley is rotated in one direction by pulling the cord the pawl is caused to pivot into engagement with the member on the rotatable part of the engine.

20. An engine starter comprising a housing adapted to be supported on a fixed part of the engine, said housing being provided with an axial projection, 'a pulley including spaced peripheral flanges and a cup shaped projection extending axially from said flanges, a cord adapted to be wound between said flanges for rotating the pulley in one direction, said pulley and axial projection being constructed and arranged to provide an annular space between the cup shaped projection and the axial projection, a pawl pivotally mounted on the cup shaped projection, and means mounted in the annular space and adapted to frictionally retard the pivotal movement of the pawls when the pulley is rotated by pulling the cord.

21. In an engine starter wherein the cord is wound around a pulley, and the pulley is rotated by pulling the cord, the improvement which comprises a pulley having axially spaced peripheral flanges, one said flange having an L-shaped opening therein, the other said flange having a depressed portion in register with said L-shaped opening and a pair of spaced openings in said depressed portion in register with the L-shaped opening, whereby a cord may be connected to said pulley by looping the end portion thereof outwardly through one leg of said L- shaped opening and passing the end of the cord inwardly through one of said openings in said depressed portion, and thereafter outwardly through the other opening in the depressed portion and back through the loop.

22. An engine starter comprising a support adapted to be mounted on a fixed part of the engine, a pulley rotatably supported on said support, a cord connected to said pulley and adapted to be wound around said pulley and when wound, adapted to rotate the pulley when pulled, a spring arranged to be tensioned when the cord is pulled to unwind it from the pulley, said spring when tensioned tending to rewind the cord on the pulley, pawls pivotally mounted on said pulley, a rotatably supported member arranged to be rotated for starting the engine, said pawls being arranged to pivot into engagement with said member, means including an annular washer individual to each pawl and mounted on said support about the axis of rotation of said pulley, said washers having a pivotal driving connection one with each of said pawls and means bearing axially against said washers and yieldably restraining said washers against rotation on said support whereby when the pulley is rotated in one direction by pulling said cord, said pawls pivot about said pivotal driving connections into engagement with said rotatably supported member to start the engine and when the pulley is rotated in the opposite direction by said spring, said pawls are caused to pivot to a position out of engagement with said rotatably supported member.

23. The engine starter set forth in claim 22 wherein yieldable means is provided between each said annular washer and said pulley providing a light force on said washer tending to prevent the movement thereof into engagement with said rotatably supported member due to vibration caused by operation of the engine.

24. The engine starterset forth in claim 23 wherein said yieldable means comprise a light coil spring, each said annular washer having a hook-shaped projection thereon to which one end of said spring is connected, the other end of said spring being connected to the pulley.

25. An engine starter comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a fixed part of the engine, a pulley rotatably mounted within said housing, a cord adapted to be Wound around said pulley for rotating the pulley in one direction when pulled, means yieldably resisting the rotation of said pulley in said one direction and tending to return the pulley to its original position, pawls pivotally mounted on said pulley, a member having a driving connection with a rotatable part of the engine and adapted to be engaged by said pawls, means including an annular washer individual to each said pawl and rotatably mounted within said housing about the axis of rotation of said pulley, means for applying an axial force to said washers to frictionally resist rotation of said washers relative to said housing, and means extending between each said washer and its respective pawl and forming a driving connection, whereby when the pulley is rotated in one direction by pulling the cord, the pawls are caused to pivot into driving engagement with the member having the 10 driving connection with the rotatable part of the engine and when the pulley is rotated in the opposite direction, the pawls are caused to disengage said member.

26. An engine starter comprising a support adapted to be mounted on a fixed part of the engine, a first member rotatably mounted on said support and comprising a pulley, a cord adapted to be wound around said pulley for rotating the first member in one direction when pulled, means yieldably resisting the rotation of said member in said one direction, pawls pivotally mounted on said first member, a second member having a driving connection with a rotatable part of the engine and adapted to be engaged by said pawls, a plurality of pawl-actuating members, one for each said pawl, each said pawl-actuating member being journalled for rotation about the axis of the pulley relative to each other, to the pulley and to the support, each said pawl-actuating member being movable relative to its respective pawl and having a driving connection thereto responsive to rotation of said pawl-actuating member relative to said pulley to cause pivotal movement of its respective pawl, and friction means for retarding rotation of said pawl-actuating members, whereby when the pulley is rotated in one direction by pulling the cord, the pawls are caused to pivot into driving engage ment with the second member having the driving connection with the rotatable part of the engine and when the pulley is rotated in the opposite direction under the influence of said means yieldably resisting the rotation, the pawls are caused to disengage said second member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,374,685 Kissel et al May 1, 1945 2,500,076 Honeyman Mar. 7, 1950 2,564,787 Mack Aug. 21, 1951 2,692,589 Watkins Oct. 26, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 682,945 Germany Oct. 25, 1939 

